Chapter 105: Great Battle With Red Boy
Now, Tang Sanzang and his disciples encountered Red Boy.
Tang Sanzang saw Red Boy hanging from a tree, looked closely, and realized Red Boy was a monster.
It was the end of autumn and beginning of winter, with mountain winds biting cold.
The four master and disciples wore cotton cloth robes and still felt cold, yet this child was only about six or seven years old, bound spread-eagled and naked on the tree, his hands and feet neither blue nor purple but rosy—unlike ordinary people?
Moreover, this child had fine skin and tender flesh, hung by coarse ropes, yet there was no trace of chafing anywhere on his body; if it were an ordinary child, his skin would long have been rubbed raw by the coarse ropes.
From this, Tang Sanzang realized this child was a monster.
Unexpectedly, Wukong stepped forward to rescue the child.
Tang Sanzang hurriedly obstructed.
Wukong said: “Master, don’t be afraid. This child is my nephew.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Wukong, you’re confused. This is clearly a monster—how can you say it’s your nephew?”
Red Boy, hanging there, said: “Elder, don’t be afraid. My father is named Great Power Bull Demon King, a renowned demon king in the Western Ox Continent. If you rescue me, I will surely thank you well.”
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang shuddered all over, turned his horse around, and said: “Hurry and go! Hurry and go!”
Ba Jie laughed: “Master, what are you afraid of? You don’t even know that Bull Demon King is Senior Brother’s sworn brother!”
Tang Sanzang said: “Idiot, what nonsense are you spouting!”
Wukong stepped forward with a laugh:
“Master, this time Ba Jie isn’t talking nonsense. This child really is my own nephew. Back when Old Sun had just attained the Way and hadn’t yet gone to Heaven, I was a demon immortal. On Flower Fruit Mountain, I raised a flag, roamed the ends of the earth, and befriended six heroes. Together with Old Sun, we became seven brothers, also known as the Seven Great Sages.
This child’s father is the eldest among our seven, called Bull Demon King, also known as Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven; second brother is called Jiao Demon King, known as Great Sage Who Devastates Seas; third brother is called Peng Demon King, known as Great Sage Who Mixes Heavens; fourth brother is called Lion Camel King, known as Great Sage Who Moves Mountains; fifth brother is called Macaque King, known as Great Sage Who Drives Wind; sixth brother is called Yu Monkey King, known as Great Sage Who Drives Gods; only Old Sun, being the smallest, ranked last, called Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.”
Tang Sanzang exclaimed in shock: “This… so many demon kings!”
Ba Jie laughed: “Master, you only just found out? If we’re talking about being a monster, Senior Brother back then had reached the pinnacle.”
Tang Sanzang said: “If that’s the case, then why on this journey have we repeatedly…”
Wukong said: “Master, don’t talk about that. First, let’s rescue the child.”
Tang Sanzang said: “You’re right.”
Wukong stepped forward, untied the ropes on Red Boy’s hands and feet. Red Boy fell down and thanked Sun Wukong: “Thank you, Uncle Sun, for saving me.”
Ba Jie came up and said: “You little kid, you’re quite likable.”
Red Boy said: “And you are?”
Ba Jie laughed: “I’m your Uncle Sun’s junior brother. By seniority, you should call me Second Uncle Pig.”
Hearing this, Red Boy guessed he was Tang Sanzang’s second disciple Zhu Wu Neng, so he called: “Second Uncle Pig.”
Zhu Bajie immediately beamed with joy.
Sha Wujing stepped forward with a laugh: “Then I’m Third Uncle Sha!”
Red Boy guessed he was Sha Seng and ignored him.
The group thought the child might just be shy.
Tang Sanzang asked: “Child, why were you hung up here?”
Red Boy said:
“Grand Master, I was sent by my father to guard the mountains and earth god here at Six Hundred Li Drill Mountain. A few months ago, a demon came to the mountains with some power. I fought him several times, but today I was careless and defeated. He hung me here to humiliate me. Fortunately, Uncle Sun saved me and I escaped…”
Tang Sanzang said: “Wait, what did you just call me?”
Red Boy said: “Grand Master.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Why did you call me Grand Master?”
Ba Jie said: “Master, how are you confused? Senior Brother is his uncle, and you’re Senior Brother’s master—aren’t you his grand master?”
Tang Sanzang said: “Amitabha! By seniority, yes, but…”
Tang Sanzang stepped back a few steps and whispered to Ba Jie: “But he’s a monster!”
Ba Jie said: “Master, what does that matter? Even if he’s a monster, so what? Think of Junior Brother Sha—he ate countless people before, but didn’t he join the Buddhist order?”
Sha Wujing had sharp ears and spoke up:
“Second Senior Brother, why bring that up? I’ve received the Bodhisattva’s precepts and turned over a new leaf. If we’re talking about that, didn’t you have a father-in-law at Gao Lao Village?”
Ba Jie fidgeted with his hands and looked around.
Red Boy said: “Grand Master, Uncle Sun, Second Uncle Pig, let’s not stay here. My father taught me from childhood not to forget a debt of gratitude. Please come with me to my cave mansion. I’ll prepare a grand vegetarian feast to thank you for saving me!”
Hearing about the banquet, Ba Jie was overjoyed:
“Good! Good nephew, it was worth saving you!”
Tang Sanzang still had some concerns and worriedly said to Wukong:
“Wukong, this…”
Wukong said: “Master, rest assured. With Old Sun here, nothing will happen.”
Red Boy led the way ahead.
The four master and disciples followed behind.
After walking some distance, they reached an ancient cliff like a one-line sky, as if two stone mountains were pressed together with a crack in between. Red Boy said:
“Grand Master, the cliff above is treacherous and easy to slip on; we should go below. But the path below is narrow—the White Horse probably can’t pass. Give the horse to me. I’m familiar with the way and can lead it over the cliff above while you go below.”
Wukong laughed: “Nephew, no need for you to lead the horse. There’s someone here wider than the horse—if the horse can’t pass, he certainly can’t. Have him lead it instead.”
Ba Jie said: “Marshal of the Heavenly Horses, you’re mocking me again. Old Pig is a bit fat, but I have thirty-six transformations—how could I not pass?”
Wukong said: “Idiot, what did you call me!”
Red Boy said: “Uncles, don’t argue. I’ll lead the horse. First, the cliff is treacherous and Second Uncle Pig isn’t familiar with the path, so it’s inconvenient; second, I’m the junior and received saving grace, so I should lead it.”
With that, Red Boy took the White Horse and went over the mountain top.
Ba Jie said: “This child is sensible and likable.”
Tang Sanzang nodded to himself.
The four master and disciples passed through the cliff. Red Boy also led the horse down from the mountain, and they continued forward to a stream.
The White Horse stepped into the stream water, splashing droplets. Red Boy hurried alongside, helping Tang Sanzang lift his monk robe to keep it from getting wet.
Tang Sanzang couldn’t help saying: “Child, the water is cold!”
Red Boy laughed: “Grand Master, don’t worry. I have fire qi in my body, so I’m not afraid of cold water.”
After crossing the stream, they continued to a secluded grove where Red Boy warned:
“Grand Master, there are often snakes and insects in this grove—be careful walking.”
The group carefully passed through the secluded grove. Further on was a rocky path covered in moss and vines.
Red Boy said again: “Grand Master, be careful riding—watch for slips.”
In this way, they passed the ancient cliff, crossed the stream, walked the secluded grove, tread the vines, and finally arrived before a strange rock cliff.
Inside the strange rock cliff was a cave mansion, with a stone stele beside it inscribed: “Ku Song Stream, Fire Cloud Cave.”
Red Boy said: “We’re here.”
Ba Jie plopped down on his rear: “Finally here—Old Pig is exhausted.”
Tang Sanzang dismounted.
Red Boy hurried to help.
Tang Sanzang couldn’t help saying: “Child, be careful.”
After saying this, Tang Sanzang remembered the Red Boy before him was a monster, and his heart felt complex.
Because Red Boy had been so attentive along the way, Tang Sanzang had forgotten he was a monster.
Red Boy said: “Wait a moment, I’ll go call someone to open the door.”
With that, he ran off quickly.
The four master and disciples watched Red Boy’s hurried figure and couldn’t help smiling at each other.
Wukong laughed: “My eldest brother Bull Demon King didn’t cultivate the Way in his youth, yet the child he bore is so sensible.”
Ba Jie said: “Senior Brother, what’s so strange? As the saying goes, a dragon begets nine sons, each different; even a cat giving birth to pups has varied colors.”
Sha Wujing said: “Second Senior Brother’s words are crude, but the reasoning holds.”
As they spoke, Red Boy ran out, changed into a red bellyband and a small cape.
The cave mansion’s door swung open, and a crowd of little demons ran out, lining up on both sides.
Red Boy stepped forward: “Grand Master, uncles, please come in.”
Tang Sanzang looked at the group of little demons.
The little demons all showed fawning smiles, but some had varied, still ferocious forms.
Seeing this, Tang Sanzang couldn’t help his heart tightening.
Fortunately, these little demons were just oddly shaped. After Tang Sanzang and the others entered the cave, they found it quite ordinary, with no bloody things.
Things like human heads, human skins, human sinews were not seen.
Thus, Tang Sanzang wasn’t too scared.
Red Boy ordered his little demon subordinates to prepare a grand vegetarian feast.
He also had four rooms cleaned in the cave for Tang Sanzang and his disciples to stay in.
Tang Sanzang remained cautious and only took one room, with the four master and disciples staying together.
Red Boy didn’t mind. Soon, the vegetarian feast was fully prepared and laid out.
There were four staples: steamed white steamed buns, buns with bean paste filling, pan-sized flatbreads, roasted fruit with sesame.
Eight dishes: stir-fried daylily in clear oil, wood ear fungus in sesame oil, golden fried tofu, braised soft eggplant, pan-fried fragrant mushrooms, wild vegetable with sauce, soup of winter melon and glass noodles, stewed fresh bamboo shoots and radish.
Four dried fruits: longan, grapes, persimmons, red dates.
Red Boy invited everyone: “It was hasty, so the preparation is simple. Please don’t mind, Grand Master and uncles. Tomorrow I’ll prepare a richer banquet.”
Ba Jie swallowed his saliva: “Not simple at all—not simple! The last time we had such a good feast was in the imperial palace of Wuji Kingdom! Master, forgive my rudeness—Old Pig will start eating!”
Ba Jie picked up a roasted fruit and stuffed it into his mouth.
Tang Sanzang couldn’t help saying: “Ba Jie!”
But Ba Jie had already eaten it.
Tang Sanzang sighed helplessly, turned, and first thanked Red Boy.
Red Boy returned the courtesy: “Grand Master, you eat too. You’ve walked all day and must be starving.”
Ba Jie said: “Exactly, exactly, Master, eat up!”
In a moment, Ba Jie had a row of fried tofu skewered on his chopsticks.
Tang Sanzang couldn’t help saying: “You, you’re such an idiot!”
Tang Sanzang and his disciples finished the feast. By now, it was getting late outside, so Red Boy invited them to stay in the cave.
Tang Sanzang did not refuse.
The four master and disciples returned to the room. Ba Jie rolled onto the bed and fell asleep.
Sha Wujing tidied the packed luggage and went to sleep.
Wukong stayed by Tang Sanzang’s side.
Tang Sanzang changed out of his clothes and took out a few old scriptures to review.
Wukong took the dirty clothes. Seeing Ba Jie and Sha Wujing asleep, he went out alone to wash them.
